It’s A Mistake to Minimize Jesus
Today you’re going to see the enormity of Jesus.
You may not be interested in Jesus biggness, but I want you to experience a church that is passionate about it today
Benjamin Franklin, not a Chritian but more of Deist. He was fascinated by George Whitefield—not because he agreed with him, but because he couldn’t deny his power, sincerity, and impact saying, “His integrity, disinterestedness, and indefatigable zeal in prosecuting every good work… struck me with admiration.” He went to his evangelistic events. He printed his books. While he didn’t believe, he was convinced that Whitefield believed.
Here’s why you need it:
01. Life feels lifeless. Jesus' reality and magnitude fills it with color.
02. You’re up against a storm. When storms are raging you need a deep anchor of the soul.
03. You’ve hit the ceiling. The disillusionment of tasting success and and still not being satisfied shows you you’re need for More. Jesus is that more.
I want you to notice the nature of the betrayal and arrest of Jesus. Jesus is not a pathetic beta fearing his arrest. He’s in charge the entire time. I want you to feel His magnitude here:e
[1] When Jesus had spoken these words, he went out with his disciples across the brook Kidron, where there was a garden, which he and his disciples entered. [2] Now Judas, who betrayed him, also knew the place, for Jesus often met there with his disciples. [3] So Judas, having procured a band of soldiers and some officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees, went there with lanterns and torches and weapons. [4] Then Jesus, knowing all that would happen to him, came forward and said to them, “Whom do you seek?” [5] They answered him, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus said to them, “I am he.” Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them. [6] When Jesus said to them, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground. [7] So he asked them again, “Whom do you seek?” And they said, “Jesus of Nazareth.” [8] Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he. So, if you seek me, let these men go.” [9] This was to fulfill the word that he had spoken: “Of those whom you gave me I have lost not one.” [10] Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant and cut off his right ear. (The servant’s name was Malchus.) [11] So Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword into its sheath; shall I not drink the cup that the Father has given me?”
01. JESUS WAS NOT A BETA VICTIM BUT THE ALPHA AND OMEGA.
Jesus wasn’t trapped in the Garden—He was in total control. Peter tried to protect Jesus. Jesus has never needed anyone to protect Him. He spoke and the guards fell down. Then while on the ground, Jesus asks them again, “who are you looking for now?” He then protects His own disciples. This is Jesus.
How do you view Jesus?
Read theology books that maximize Jesus .(J.I. Packer, R.C. Sproul, A.W. Tozer, )
Listen to preachers with a high view of God. (John Piper, Tim Chaddick, Francis Chan)
Put God first in everything. (Bible before breakfast, Tithe, Lock in with Church)
Jesus wasn’t just in charge in the garden, but over the sweeping narrative of history.
02. THE TRINITY SUPERINTENDS HISTORY.
[12] So the band of soldiers and their captain and the officers of the Jews arrested Jesus and bound him. [13] First they led him to Annas, for he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was high priest that year. [14] It was Caiaphas who had advised the Jews that it would be expedient that one man should die for the people.
01. The Bible Is Credible According to Historical Documents
Caiaphas served as high priest from AD 18–36, unusually long under Roman rule—confirmed by Josephus That timeline aligns perfectly with Jesus' ministry and trial, showing the Gospels didn’t invent characters but recorded real people in power at the exact time they claim.
John records that Jesus was taken first to Annas, the father-in-law of Caiaphas. This is a strange detail unless the writer had intimate knowledge of the high priestly system in 1st-century Jerusalem. Annas had previously been high priest (AD 6–15) and still wielded influence behind the scenes.
This is a “ring of truth” moment. The inclusion of a lesser-known fact that fits what we know from extra-biblical history (Josephus, etc.) suggests eyewitness testimony or access to reliable sources. It strengthens the case that John’s Gospel is grounded in historical reality, not myth or legend.
02. Prophetic Truth Hidden in Political Pragmatism
Caiaphas' logic—"it is better for one man to die than the whole nation perish"—is cold political expediency. Yet it inadvertently points to the heart of the gospel: Jesus would willingly die in the place of others.
03. Jesus’ Betrayal Prediction Proven Accurate
[15] Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple. Since that disciple was known to the high priest, he entered with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest, [16] but Peter stood outside at the door. So the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to the servant girl who kept watch at the door, and brought Peter in. [17] The servant girl at the door said to Peter, “You also are not one of this man’s disciples, are you?” He said, “I am not.” [18] Now the servants and officers had made a charcoal fire, because it was cold, and they were standing and warming themselves. Peter also was with them, standing and warming himself.
[25] Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. So they said to him, “You also are not one of his disciples, are you?” He denied it and said, “I am not.” [26] One of the servants of the high priest, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, asked, “Did I not see you in the garden with him?” [27] Peter again denied it, and at once a rooster crowed.
John 13:38 “Jesus answered, ‘Will you lay down your life for me? Truly, truly, I say to you, the rooster will not crow till you have denied me three times.’”
What does Jesus use His power of history to do?
03. JESUS LEVERAGED HIS POWER TO TAKE OUR PLACE.
[28] Then they led Jesus from the house of Caiaphas to the governor’s headquarters. It was early morning. They themselves did not enter the governor’s headquarters, so that they would not be defiled, but could eat the Passover. [29] So Pilate went outside to them and said, “What accusation do you bring against this man?” [30] They answered him, “If this man were not doing evil, we would not have delivered him over to you.” [31] Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law.” The Jews said to him, “It is not lawful for us to put anyone to death.” [32] This was to fulfill the word that Jesus had spoken to show by what kind of death he was going to die.
There is a ton of prophetic irony. They are careful not defile themselves, but everything they are doing defiles them as they move the Son of God toward His crucifixion. Most ironic of all is the fact that they are trying to avoid defilement so they can participate in passover. But little do they know that Jesus’ death is the ultimate passover.
Passover was a Jewish holiday where you ate lamb and other elements to remember the way God set His people free in the Old Testament. He had them spill the blood of an innocent lamb and paint it on the doorfront of your house. Jesus now spills His blood for the household of God.
Watch how it goes down. Jesus continues to display power under control:
[33] So Pilate entered his headquarters again and called Jesus and said to him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” [34] Jesus answered, “Do you say this of your own accord, or did others say it to you about me?” [35] Pilate answered, “Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered you over to me. What have you done?” [36] Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.” [37] Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.” [38] Pilate said to him, “What is truth?”
After he had said this, he went back outside to the Jews and told them, “I find no guilt in him. [39] But you have a custom that I should release one man for you at the Passover. So do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?” [40] They cried out again, “Not this man, but Barabbas!” Now Barabbas was a robber.
Jesus again, though on trial, affirms His own authority. He cannot be killed, He gives his life up. He is King of the Jews. But He’s also King of the cosmos. He has a Kingdom not of this World. His angels would defend Him on command. In fact Jesus insists on this moments before He gets condemned:
John 19:10-11 So Pilate said to him, “You will not speak to me? Do you not know that I have authority to release you and authority to crucify you?” [11] Jesus answered him, “You would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given you from above. Therefore he who delivered me over to you has the greater sin.”
So in control was Jesus, that He seems to playfully goad Pilate into receiving His Lordship saying “You say that I am a King”. Jesus orchestrated the very circumstances to stand before Pilate as His evangelist.
We are Indicted by this passage:
01. We are a “What is Truth” people. We attempt to define life by our own standards and say no one can judge us as we sin. How have you degodded God by redefining truth for yourself?
02. We are guilty people. Just as they traded Barabas, a murder, in for Christ, we have traded Jesus in for lesser things: money, sex, power, influence, self-importance. Every time we sin, we exchange God for something else–and we crucify Jesus in-so-doing.
Acts 2:36 “Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.”
Acts 3:14–15 “But you denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, and you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead.”
Hebrews 6:6 (warning to apostates)
“…they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt.”
How can Peter say this? Some of these people did not crucify Jesus. But every time we sin we take part in His crucifixion.
Look what we do to Jesus:
[19] The high priest then questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching. [20] Jesus answered him, “I have spoken openly to the world. I have always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where all Jews come together. I have said nothing in secret. [21] Why do you ask me? Ask those who have heard me what I said to them; they know what I said.” [22] When he had said these things, one of the officers standing by struck Jesus with his hand, saying, “Is that how you answer the high priest?” [23] Jesus answered him, “If what I said is wrong, bear witness about the wrong; but if what I said is right, why do you strike me?” [24] Annas then sent him bound to Caiaphas the high priest.
Jesus was innocent. But we brutalize Him. And He willingly received it.
🎵 "How Deep the Father’s Love for Us" by Stuart Townend
"Behold the man upon a cross,
My sin upon His shoulders;
Ashamed, I hear my mocking voice
Call out among the scoffers."
THIS IS THE GOSPEL.
→ Despite the fact that we have redefined His Truth and made ourselves blood-guilty, Jesus leveraged His power to take our place. Jesus willingly traded Himself in for the murderer (you and me).
→ Be Redeemed by Jesus today. Turn to Jesus–receive His grace.
→ Be reminded of the sinfulness of sin. Sin is serious. Not a joke.
→ Be renewed by love. He leveraged His control to save you!